Should employers stop looking at grades as a predictor of success at work? What have you seen? My comment is as follows: It is a NO. Employers must look at grades as a predictor of success at work. Success at work is largely a function of competence (Knowledge, skills and attitude) where Grades are a good measure (for want of better ones) of Knowledge and Skills. Attitudes are a function of multiple factors - one's family upbringing, circumstances one encountered in life, beliefs and so on and so forth. For the first 10 to 15 years it is by and large one's abilities in the chosen field /vocation which propels one to leadership position. At leadership positions since the persons have to deal with diversity in talent, levels of proficiency etc the soft skills take a precedence over functional knowledge. I cite with a personal example. 25 years ago I argued with my professor that Grades at IRMA are no predictor of one's professional success and a person like me (with poor grades) will demonstrate professional success say after 20 years hence. The reply was that will not be and in an exceptional case if that happens Professor said he would be happy to be proved wrong. I agree now with my Professor. Majority of my batchmates with very good grades moved up in the corporate ladder fast and have become CEOs or top functionaries of their fields in large organisations and are in positions of help or guide their fellow classmates (with poor grades) to survive or to improve. Of course there are a minority with very high grades but being very selfish who ended up for being notorious and for dubious acts.
Nagendra - academic performance and good grades test conscientiousness. But at work, managing relationships and the ecosystem account for a much larger share of impact. Thanks for your views. I wonder what other readers would say
Should employers stop looking at grades as a predictor of success at work? What have you seen? My comment is as follows: It is a NO. Employers must look at grades as a predictor of success at work. Success at work is largely a function of competence (Knowledge, skills and attitude) where Grades are a good measure (for want of better ones) of Knowledge and Skills. Attitudes are a function of multiple factors - one's family upbringing, circumstances one encountered in life, beliefs and so on and so forth. For the first 10 to 15 years it is by and large one's abilities in the chosen field /vocation which propels one to leadership position. At leadership positions since the persons have to deal with diversity in talent, levels of proficiency etc the soft skills take a precedence over functional knowledge. I cite with a personal example. 25 years ago I argued with my professor that Grades at IRMA are no predictor of one's professional success and a person like me (with poor grades) will demonstrate professional success say after 20 years hence. The reply was that will not be and in an exceptional case if that happens Professor said he would be happy to be proved wrong. I agree now with my Professor. Majority of my batchmates with very good grades moved up in the corporate ladder fast and have become CEOs or top functionaries of their fields in large organisations and are in positions of help or guide their fellow classmates (with poor grades) to survive or to improve. Of course there are a minority with very high grades but being very selfish who ended up for being notorious and for dubious acts.
Nagendra - academic performance and good grades test conscientiousness. But at work, managing relationships and the ecosystem account for a much larger share of impact. Thanks for your views. I wonder what other readers would say